I. nounUsage: often attributiveEtymology: Middle English, rock, cloud, from Old English clūd; perhaps akin to Greek gloutos buttockDate: 14th century1. a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (as the earth) or moon
2. something resembling or suggesting a cloud: as
a. a light filmy, puffy, or billowy mass seeming to float in the air <

a cloud of blond hair

><

a ship under a cloud of sail

>b.(1) a usually visible mass of minute particles suspended in the air or a gas
(2) an aggregation of usually obscuring matter especially in interstellar space
(3) an aggregate of charged particles (as electrons)
c. a great crowd or multitude ;swarm<

clouds of mosquitoes

>3. something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect <

clouds of war

><

a cloud of suspicion

>4. something that obscures or blemishes <

a cloud of ambiguity

>5. a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)
II. verbDate: 1562intransitive verb1. to grow cloudy — usually used with over or up<

clouded over before the storm

>2.a.of facial features to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance <

her face clouded with worry

>b. to become blurry, dubious, or ominous — often used with over<

the outlook is clouding over

>3. to billow up in the form of a cloud
transitive verb1.a. to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud <

Cloud — (kloud), n. [Prob. fr. AS. cl[=u]d a rock or hillock, the application arising from the frequent resemblance of clouds to rocks or hillocks in the sky or air.] 1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles, suspended in the upper… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Cloud — (kloud), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Clouded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Clouding}.] 1. To overspread or hide with a cloud or clouds; as, the sky is clouded. [1913 Webster] 2. To darken or obscure, as if by hiding or enveloping with a cloud; hence, to render… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

cloud — ► NOUN 1) a visible mass of condensed watery vapour floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground. 2) an indistinct or billowing mass of smoke, dust, etc. 3) a large number of insects or birds moving together.… … English terms dictionary

Cloud — Cloud, v. i. To grow cloudy; to become obscure with clouds; often used with up. [1913 Webster] Worthies, away! The scene begins to cloud. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English